Stateline Brewing Society

Seeing the last few posts about cheap beer and cake gave me an idea about pairing beer and sweet junk foods. My theory is just try it. Accidentally dropping a chocolate chip cookie in a Guinness is nice surprise. Dropping your cell phone, not so much. But I would have to say that the only situation someone would most likely try Twinkies and beer is “I’m drunk in the pantry!”

Along those same lines, say you were at a homebrewing club meeting held at a bar. Maybe someone had a 40th birthday and there was leftover cake. A normal reaction is #1 Do you have any milk or water I can drink with this cake? or my reaction #2 Hell yes I’ll take a piece and can I have a corner piece with extra frosting? You may have guessed or witnessed I’m a #2 kind of guy. Once you go down that road all bets are off. Now little kid birthday parties don’t seem that bad. Thanksgiving desert just got even better, if that’s possible. Maybe a Belgian with pumpkin pie. Burp….. Here is a list I made up of junk desert food and beer pairings in no real order. I’m sure I missed some combos, if so, leave a comment and tell us yours.

-Andy

Junk Food

1. Twinkies - Pilseners or Junk beers
2. Ding Dongs / Ho Hos - Porters, Stouts, Bocks
3. Donuts, normal cake - IPA, Fruit beers
4. Crawlers & Pastries - Depends on flavor. Domestics, Kölsch, Blonde Ales
5. Chocolate Style Candy Bars - For experts only due to foaming. English Bitter
6. Fruit Candies - You’d have to be pretty drunk. A keg of Domestic.

Holidays

1. Birthday Cake - Very flexible, most beers. No chillie beers eewww!
2. Thanksgiving Desserts - Of course Pumpkin beers, Strong Ale, Belgian Strong, Scottish Ales
3. Christmas Desserts - The good stuff… Old Ale, Russian Imperial Stout, Winter Warmer, English Strong Ale, Dubbel, Lambic - Fruit, Saison, Meads. Good idea to get loaded when the family is around.
4. Wedding Cake - Free reception beer. Eat early and don’t be surprised to see that cake again.

Moms Home Made

1. Brownies - Weizenbock, Munich Dunkel,
2. Chocolate Chip Cookies - Stouts, Porters, Euro Lagers
3. Pies - Hefeweizen, IPA, Helles, Maibock
4. Banana Bread and similar - Whatever grandma has on hand. Dusty cans of warm Old Style, Schlitz and other Junk beers.
5. Fruit Cake - Tequila shots! Well maybe tequila shots first, then maybe try fruit cake shots or Drain-o shots or motor oil shots. Anything at that point.

Here is a cool story my brother found for all the beer slobs out there like me.

Andy

Usa of Beer

If your dad liked a beer, and was on a budget, chances are that his swill-of-choice is now owned by Pabst. As the (somewhat random and incomplete) list below shows, there are other ways for America’s venerable cheap beers to survive in a world that seems increasingly divided between corporate behemoths and twee craft brews. Read more and see the full list and comments. The United States of cheap beer.

Here is a list of beers that Pabst’s owns. Many of my favorites.

After the Berlin Wall fell in 1989, the symbols of daily life in East Germany soon started to disappear as well.

The Ostmark currency, the beloved but dreadful excuse for an automobile known as the Trabant, the charmless Interflug national airline; all eventually vanished.

At least one thing from the German Democratic Republic, however, didn’t disappear, and has in fact thrived since reunification.

That would be Kostritzer Schwarzbier, a “black” lager that has been made in the eastern part of Germany since the 16th century. (more…)

Here are some pics from the Picnic.

Freshened up the web site. Take a look around. It should be easier to find things.

Spring Brewfest 2008 is planned for the Friday of Memorial Day weekend. Friday, May 23rd from 4:30 to 8:00. More details to follow.

A few pics from last year.

Canceled!!

Rockford’s Forest City Brewers is offering a chance for SBS’ers to join them to Chilton WI Brew Fest. May 18 from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. The price is $60 which includes your ticket to the fest and bus transportation to and from. If enough people from the Beloit area sign up they will have the bus meet in the parking lot behind Sud’s. They need to know ASAP so if you are interested please email David DeNale now.

4.1.08 - Collected about ten gallons.

I tapped the maple tree again. I need to find a beer style to fit with the maple sap. I’m thinking of a German Dunkel.

Step 1 - Tap the tree.

Watch for updates!

Pictured are:
front row - Evin, Dan, Phil, Mark, Pat, Mike, Paul
back row- Mick, Geoff, Antony, Trent (duh), Tony
not pictured - Chris and Randi (taking the picture)

London Amateur Brewers

We were invited by Antony Hayes to join the London Amateur Brewers at the Wenlock Arms Pub (upstairs in the fine meeting room) - we arrived after only one wrong turn and an extra mile of walking (I forgot the GPS).  They had 12 cask ales available along with several other taps.
This month they had presentations on Bitter (English Pale Ale) from Mick and cleaning and sanitizing from Tony. Beers by Phil (2!), Paul, Mick, Mark, and Evin. Great beers guys - sorry we couldn’t bring ours. Thanks for the pub recommendations (and directions from Dan)! Mike also suggested we check out durdenparkbeer.org.uk - historic beer styles and recipes.

- Trent

Upon checking the results of the poll it looks like the meetings will switch to Sud’s. I’ll send out a reminder when it gets closer…